BR: 02/01/2016
• WHY SHOULD ALL HC WORKERS BE
CONCERNED ABOUT INFECTION CONTROL?
MEDICAL ASEPSIS
• What is it?
– The state of being free from disease – causing
pathogens
• How do you think we could maintain this in all
healthcare environments/settings?
– Hand washing, wearing & using PPE efficiently
• What would happen in healthcare if we didn’t’
practice medical asepsis?
– A HORRIBLE MESS!! Sick pts, staff members spreading
infections, equipment disgusting
How to control Infectious Diseases
• Hand Washing
• PPE
• Cleaning & Disinfecting
• Sterilization
GERM EXPERIMENT
• Glitter
• Lotion
• Which is better? Sanitizer or soap & water
Handwashing
Recommendations from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
In a Healthcare Setting
1. Regular hand washing is the MOST important
practice for aseptic technique.
2. Ingredients = plain or antibacterial soap and
water
3. Use regular hand washing for routine
cleansing and whenever the hands are visibly
soiled.
OSHA
• Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OHSA) sets safety standards
for the workplace.
• OSHA standards include standards that
prevent the spread of bloodborne pathogens.
• Handwashing – an important safety standard.
• According to the CDC, “Handwashing is a
simple thing and it's the best way to prevent
infection and illness.”
Antiseptic Handwashing
1. Use an antimicrobial soap and water.
2. Usually used before invasive procedures, in
critical care units, or when a patient is on
transmission-based precautions.
• Should antimicrobial handwashing be used
more frequently? Why or why not?
Time Spent Cleansing Hands:
one nurse per 8 hour shift
 Hand washing with soap and water: 56
minutes
–
Based on seven (60 second) handwashing episodes per
hour
 Alcohol-based handrub: 18 minutes
–
Based on seven (20 second) handrub episodes per hour
~ Alcohol-based handrubs reduce time
needed for hand disinfection ~
Voss A and Widmer AF, Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1997:18;205-208.
When Should You Wash Your Hands?
1. When arriving at and before leaving a
healthcare facility.
2. Before and after every patient contact.
3. Before moving from a contaminated body
site to a clean body site.
4. Any time hands become contaminated during
a procedure.
5. Before applying and immediately after
removing gloves.
When Should You Wash Your Hands?
6. Any time gloves are torn or punctured.
7. Before and after handling specimens.
8. After picking up an item off the floor.
9. After personal use of the bathroom.
10.After you cough, sneeze, or use a tissue.
11.Before or after any contact with your mouth
or mucous membrane (eating, drinking,
inserting contacts, etc.)
Antiseptic Hand Rubs
• Alcohol-based
• Use when hands are not visibly soiled
Stop & Talk About It
•When should you
wash your hands
while at work?
Group Discussion
• Do all healthcare workers practice all of these
hand washing standards all of the time?
• Based on what you have learned, would you
guess that nosocomial infections are almost
always preventable, often preventable, or
occasionally preventable?
• Are some healthcare professionals more likely
to wash their hands than others? Why?
How Should You Wash Your Hands?
1. Remove Jewelry
2. Wet your hands with clean running water
(warm) and apply a generous amount of soap .
3. Rub your hands together to make a lather and
scrub them well (be sure to scrub the backs of
your hands, between your fingers, and under
your nails)
4. Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20
seconds. (Need a timer? Hum the "Happy
Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.)
5. Rinse your hands well under running water.
6. Dry your hands using a clean paper towel.
7. Turn off the faucet with a dry clean paper towel.
Who Can Show & Tell Us?
As We take Turns Practicing
• Create a foldable / tree map that compares &
contrasts,
– CLEAN
– VS STERILE
– VS DISINFECTANT
– Include descriptions, how it’s done as well as
images that will help you remember each one
For More Information & Learning
• http://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/training/int
eractiveEducation/
BR: 02/18/15
• WHAT WOULD HC FACILITIES
BE LIKE IF THERE WERE NO
FOCUS ON ASEPSIS?
MEDICAL ASEPSIS
• What is it?
• How do you think we could maintain this in all
healthcare environments/settings?
• What would happen in healthcare if we didn’t’
practice medical asepsis?
STANDARD VS TRANSMISSION-BASED
PRECAUTIONS
• AS YOU READ, YOUR GROUP SHOULD FOCUS
ON:
– WHO (who are precautions used for)
– WHAT (PPE you need & what specific actions to
take & concerns in order to protect yourself)
– WHEN (when are they necessary to use)
– WHY (why is it necessary)
– CHOOSE SOMEONE TO READ WHO READS WELL
Ticket out
• What are the differences
between standard &
transmission-based
precautions?